CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City Council approved a resolution Thursday night clearing the way for the Clarksville Housing Authority to move forward with a $35 million project to rebuild the 85-year-old Lincoln Homes housing project.
The first provision in the redevelopment process is the abandonment of portions of Howard Street, Lincoln Drive and Ernest Shelton Drive. The roads are owned by the City of Clarksville, and the resolution, which was deferred last month, shifts ownership to CHA.
CHA Interim Executive Director Dawn Sanders-Garrett previously said this phase is important because it affects the master plan’s traffic flow, parking, demolition and the ability to move materials.
| PREVIOUSLY: Housing Authority on search for new executive director, progress on Lincoln Homes redevelopment
Amended resolution motioned for approval
Thursday night Councilperson Ambar Marquis motioned for the road abandonment resolution to be amended. After speaking with the contractor of the redevelopment project, Edward Matkom with Gorman & Company, she came up with an amendment, which she considered a “compromise.”
“I’ve been working on trying to find a compromise to the situation that we find ourselves in,” Marquis said. “One that will potentially help move the project forward but protect the city’s assets in the future as well.
“I’ve been in contact with the contractor, and even HUD, trying to figure out what the timeline is for all of this construction we’ll potentially be seeing here soon. An email went out to all of you with a timeline of the financing of closing, when they intend on beginning the construction and when they plan on finishing.”
Marquis said construction is expected to start June 15 and end on Nov. 15, 2027.
‘They have to submit notice to the city’
She said it is understood for them to be able close their financing date on June 3, they have to have a road abandonment, so that they can submit their construction permit, as well as site plans, in order to close.
“So, in my amendment, the abandonment begins May 1, which gives them the 30 days to do the site plan with the RPC, and their permitting with Building and Codes, to give them their closing date. Then, also, it allows for an extra 10 extra days just in the event the closing date moves one way or another,” Marquis said.
“It’s still prior to when they believe they’re going to commence construction. So, they have to submit notice to the city on the notice to proceed to provide proof that they did close on their financial contracts prior to June 15. Then the date I put was June 13. If they do not provide this information to us, then it vacates this resolution and becomes null and void. … They’ll have never touched the road.”
Councilperson Deanna McLaughlin thanked Marquis for her efforts to find a compromise, but one concern she had is the lack of communication from the developer. “When there are zoning cases, the people involved contact us and try to discuss our concerns with us; that did not happen with Gorman & Company.”
McLaughlin said she wanted to publicly state she’s for the redevelopment of Lincoln Homes, but she doesn’t understand why this process wasn’t unfolding four to five years ago.
Councilperson Wanda Smith said the reason they couldn’t accomplish this four to five years ago, was because of lack of budget.
The City Council approved the amendment on project timing 11-2, with McLaughlin and Mayor Joe Pitts voting no. The council approved the final resolution to hand over the roads 8-5. Voting yes were Brian Zacharias, Tim Chandler, Marquis, Smith, Jimmy Brown, Stacey Streetman, Joe Shakeenab and Keri Lovato. Voting no were McLaughlin, Carlos Peters, Travis Holleman, Jerry Haywood and Pitts.
| MORE: Council postpones homeless outreach center vote to ‘continue the conversation’
A common goal: affordable housing
In response to the council’s approval, Garrett said, “I am pleased that the City Council approved the road abandonment on the agenda tonight, which helps us keep our current redevelopment plan on track.
“This first step helps insure a $35 million project will become a reality in our community. Between now and closing on the redevelopment deal, I will continue to inform the council and all other interested parties on our plan. There is much we can accomplish when the county, city and other community stakeholders are able to work cooperatively toward a simple goal: affordable housing.”
| NEWS ALERTS: To get free breaking news alerts on your phone, text the word NEWS to 43414.